Stephen Parker-Roth, the “king of hearts,” loves life and loves women. Through a series of misadventures he finds himself engaged to Lady Anne Marston, the last woman society would have picked for him. She’s unfashionable and “on the shelf,” but something about the hidden beauty intrigues Stephen and makes him very eager to explore the sparks that fly between them.

After a traumatic experience when she was 17, Lady Anne devoted her life to taking care of her siblings while her father and stepmother chased antiquities around the world. She doesn’t quite believe that the darling of the ton would want to go through with their engagement. But as Stephen begins a subtle assault on her senses and her heart, Anne finds her objections growing weaker and weaker.

In the fashion of Julia Quinn, Mackenzie creates a bubbly, enjoyable Regency romp with lovably flawed characters. While Stephen and Anne do fit into their respective stereotypes, Mackenzie imbibes them both with enough charm and personality to make it relatively unnoticeable. Anne’s numerous siblings add the layer of fun and mischief to the story that save it from being one of a hundred to tell the story of the ugly duckling and the unrepentant ladies’ man. This is the perfect read for a sunny summer afternoon by the pool or on the beach.

~ Taylor